Michael Ensor

1928 Originally with a Maddox Coupe body but now with a Le Mans type body from a 3 litre WO Bentley. GYL39

GYL39 has been owned by Michael Ensor since early 2020 and has an interesting history. The chassis was built in 1928 and fitted with a Maddox coupe body, which was replaced in the 1930s with Southern Motors dhc coachwork. In the 1970s it was shipped to Canada, and then to the USA where it was destroyed by fire in the 1980s. It was repatriated as a chassis by the Real Car Company in 1990, and the engine sold separately in 1992. During the 1990s the chassis was owned and restored by Roy Fletcher who fitted a Rolls-Royce FB60 engine, 6 cylinder, 3909cc, 175bhp at 4800rpm and a le Mans-type body from a 3-litre WO Bentley. In 1998 it was sold, again by Real Car Company and ended up on a Cornish farm where it was “rediscovered”, rather derelict, in a barn when the farmer passed away in 2019.

During the 2020 lockdown, Michael has been bringing the car back to life and has been out and about in it with his wife. The car still has its FB60 engine and ex-WOB body but there is still much to do to make it reliable for touring. Michael is now retired after a long career which included 16 years in the aerospace division of Rolls-Royce plc.